Vacuum cleaner



NQY# 255193@ H.. B.- sHARMN ETAL ,1,733,053

, l vAUuu CLEANER l -Fned March 4, '1927 f 4 sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nev. as, 1930 PATENT OFFICE :HERBERT BRAND SHAEMAN AND ALBERT EDWARD EURRAGE, Vor NoErHAMP'roN,

ENGLAND vAcUum cnEANEnI Alipnemen Vinea zieren 4, 1927, serial Ne. rza'na'ad in creat Britain April as, 192e.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners or suction sweeping machines of the kind in which the operation of the gear for actuating the fan or equivalent device for inducing the suctional air current is dependent on the revolution of the iioor'wheels on which the machine travels.

In such machines wherein the suction de-.

vice is of thebellows type, the opening and closing movements of the bellows can be efected by moving the machine forward and backward, but 1n ma'chinesjf'employin a rotary fan for, suction, al clutch of the ree wheel type adapted tol transmit a drive in one direction only has been arranged between the floor wheels and the fan shaft to prevent reversal of the rotation `of the fan shaft being caused'by reciprocation of the machine. It

is desirable in such machinesthat the suction device should be capablejofoperating while -the drive obtained by `friction .between the wheels and the iioor is-suspended,1yso that cleaning can be carriedA` out incorners and other places where rapidA movements of the whole machine on the iioor are-*not practicable, and also that the machine can be used for cleaning curtains or upholstery ywhile it isstationary, the suction being inthe latter case performed with the aid of a iexible tube v instead of by the usual floor nozzle; and in machines fitted with bellows it has been pro-` posed to provide-means for lifting the wheels oil'. the iioor while the bellows were operated by levers or by a small winch,` handle, or byv rocking the long steering handle. e f

According to this invention a plunger contained in a tubular axle is adapted tdbe drawn in one direction by a flexible cable and returned by a spring, v this plunger being screw threaded and engaging 'a corresponding internal screw thread formed inside the axle, and a clutch preventing rotation of the plunger inits operative stroke so that the axle is caused to rotate, vwhile on its return stroke the plunger rotates idly without transmitting movement to the axle. The axle is surrounded by -a coiled springsecured at oneI A end to the axle and at theother end to a' free wheel clutch adapted to transmit a drive inv one direction only to the rotary shaft of the vsuction fan. The free wheel clutch comprises a `casing connected by worm or other gearing with the fan shaft, an annular member such` yas a ring or disc provided with recesses in which-a number of intermediate rolling memenclosed between flanges formed on the casing, and washers or plates surrounding the axle and secured to the disc or ring by screws or the like, .the said washers or plates thus serving. as retaining members for the rolling members, which in turn hold the outer casing from floating. ,70 In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readil carried into effect, the same will now be escribed more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1' is a rear elevation of a vacuum cleaner embodying this invention, partly in. section on the line 1-1 in Figure 3. Figure 2 is a plan of a portion of machine. t

Figure 3' represents portions of the machine in vertical -section taken on the line 34-3 in Figure-2.

Fi ure 4 represents in longitudinal section theA A ya hol ow axle and parts associatedtherewith. 35

adapted te be confined within the Said hollow y Figure 10 is a central vertical cross section of a clutch device.

Figure 11 -is a section of the said free wheel device taken on the line 11--11 in Figure 10. 100' Figures 12 to 15 represent details herein after referred to. Y

Figures 16 and 17 represent details hereinafter referred to.

A indicates the body or fan casing of the machine, containing a suction fan a1 of any suitable kind rotatable with the worm shaft a2. In a forward extension B of the fan casing are two inlet nozzles b1 and b2, (Figure 3) the former of these, which may be circular, being adapted for the connection thereto of a iiexible tube y, Figure 13 and covered by a detachable cap, Figure 14, when such tube is not in use, the said cap being preferably secured to the extension B by a chain w1 in order to prevent its being lost. The lower nozzle b2, which extends across the front of the machine, is traversed longitudinally by a 'rod or bar C on which is fixed a brush c1, and

within the 'ends of the said nozzle b2- are rollers D adapted to support the front of the machine when travelling along the' fioor. In

the extension B is rotatably mounted a barrel or hollow valve b3, the neck of which extends through the nozzle b1, and is provided with a pin or other projection b4 working in a slot b5 in the top of the extension B, by moving which pin in one direction an open part of the wall of the barrel b3 can be brought opposite the nozzle b2 to establish a communication between the said nozzle and the interior of the fan casing A, the nozzle b1 being then closed by the aforesaid cap. By moving the pin b4 in the reverse direction, a closed part of the wall of the barrel bs is caused to cut off the communication between the arts A and b2. rlhe machine `can thus be use with a flexible tube when stationar and either with a fiexible tube or with utihzation of the downwardly directed nozzle b2 when in motion. A bag Z, Figure 15 or other receptacle for dust can be secured over the open top a5 of the fan casing A. On the back plate ai of this casing are secured the gear box E and two angle brackets F, F1,.these brackets'carrying bearings in which is pivoted a curved bar or strip G forming at its apex al ring g1 for receiving theend of a stick or other handle g2 by which the machine can be guided and propelled over the floor. The rear or main floor wheels H, H1 of the machine, which are preferably rubber-tyred, are carried on a hollow axle. J mounted in the gear box E, which axle J is adapted to transmit through a clutch device K a rotary movement in one direction only to a worm wheel e1 in gear with the worm a8 on the fan shaft a2.

The machine when stationary may be placed on a stand M having feet m1, m2, the brackets F, F1 resting on the said stand, which may be an ordinary motor-cycle stand, so that the wheels H, H1 are clear of the floor and free to rotate. A pedal `N on the end of a rod n1 Ihinged to the back of the extension B, or to any other'convenient part of ther machine, is connected with av chain P passing over a roller p1 mounted in the bracket F1.. This chain is connected with two wires p2, p5 (Figures 4 and' 8) passing through diametrically opposite grooves r1 r2 in a rod R lixed to the bracket F, the said two wires being connected with a sleeve S capable of longitudinal movement along the said rod R .but having ribs s4 S5 (Figures 6 and 8) entering the said grooves to prevent its rotation. The said wires pass through longitudijnal holes drilled in the ribs of the sleeve S and are provided with balled ends p4 engaging the rear surface of the said sleeve. This sleeve S is fitted inside another sleeve or plunger T (Figure 5) the latter being externally screw-threaded to engage an internal screw thread formed in the hollow axle J (see Figure 4).y The sleeve T has rack teeth t1 formed thereon, and the sleeve S has a flange s1 provided with oppositely arranged clutch teeth s2 (Figures 6 and 8) adapted to mesh with the said teeth t1 in oneA direction. Figures 16 and17 clearly illustrate the parts J, S, R, T, P, and W, in two positions. Figure 16 represents these parts in the position of rest, in which the s ring W is fully expanded and has presse back the ring s3 and sleeve S so far to the left that the teeth e2 are clear of the teeth t1. Figure 17 represents the same arts at thecompletion of the operative stro e, in whichby traction on the chain P acting through the?, wires p2 p3 the sleeve S has first been drawn to the right against the resistance of the spring W to engage the teeth s1 with the teeth t1 and thereby to prevent rotation of the plunger T, leaving a small clearance between the right hand end of the plunger T and the ring sa, and as the traction continues and the lunger Tadgvances to the end of its stroke, t at is, to the'position seen in Figure 17, without rotating, its screw thread engaging the internal screw thread on the hollow axle J causes rotation of the said hollow axle, and thereby of the fan. On the removalof pressure from the pedal N the Spring Wis free to expand, ressing back tA e ring s8 and sleeve S to 'sengage the teeth s1 from the teeth t1 so that on the return stroke of the plunger T, under the impulse of the spring W, which continues to press against the ring s3 now inv contact with the front of the plunger T, the said plunger is free to perform the rotation imposed on it by the internal screw thread of the axle J, and does rotate while returning, so that it does not rotate the axle J to reverse the rotation of the fan, because it has no power toovercome the inertia or resistance to such reversal of the fan and axle J To prevent detachment of the sleeves S and T from each other after they have been assembled, a ring 88 (Fi re 7) is riveted or other- Wise secured on t e right hand end of the sleeve S, which however permits relative longitudinal movement between the sleeves S and T so that the clutch teeth can be set free from each other to allow a rotary movement of the sleeve T. A double involute spring W is disposed inside the hollow axle J in compression between the ring s3 and the flange j1 on the axle.

The free wheel device indicated generally by the reference letter K in Figure 1 comprises a casing k1 (Figures l() and 1l) secured in any suitable manner tothe inside of the worm wheel e1, an annular member 7:2 suitably secured to the hollow axle j, for ex ample by springs e2, ea (Figure 1) a series of rollers lo between the said parts 1:1 and k2, and washers lc* and ks secured to the said annular member 7a2, the flanges las of the casing cl co-operating with the said washersto retain the rollers within the casing. The

right hand end ofthe hollow axle J is made l of reduced diameter to form a shoulder i2 (Fgure 4) against which abuts a ball race j (Figure l) to take the thrust of the pedal movement. The flexible tube 'Y is provided with a nozzle y1 and with a cap y2 for attachment to the nozzle b1.

When the pedal N is depressedto exert traction on the chain P and wires p2, p3, the latter cause the sleeve S to slide on the rod R and the teeth s2 to engage the teeth t1,

the sleeve T is constrained to follow this.

movement towards the right hand side (viewing Figure l) without rotating and its screw thread thereby causes rotation of thehollow axle J and of the annular member ,7a2 thereon in the direc-tion ofthe arrow seen in Figure surefrom the pedal N the spring W again` expands longitudinally, pressing back the vsleeve S and returning the parts to the positions in which they are represented in lthe drawings, the rollers ks however nestling in the recesses in the annular member k2 and ceasing to transmit any movement to' the casing la?, so that the rotation of the fan shaft a2 is not reversed. At the samel time the sleeve S overruns the sleeve T so' that the teeth 82 and t1 are disengaged and the sleeve T revolves idly in its return stroke, in order to avoid waste of power by turning in the reverse direction the wheels vH, HL which have necessarily participated in the operative revolution of the hollow shaft J. This arrangement of the rack teeth also provides a double safeguard againstreversal of the' fan shaft, because it practically prevents rotation of the hollow axle during the upstroke of the pedal, while the free wheel device K prevents further transmission of such rotation in the event of its accidentally occurring. Furthermore, the machine can be lifted off the stand and put in action on the floor without the necessity of releasing'any catch in the pedal movement, because the spring `W when expanded keeps the teeth of the two sleeves out of mesh with each other, so that the hollow axle and the wheels H, H1 can turn in either direction when the machine `is moved backwards and forwards on the adapted to rest on said stand and having an outlet, an inlet communicating with the interior of said casing, a rotatable shaft, a

suction fan secured on said shaft and adapted to be revolved thereby in said casing, an internally screw threaded tubular axle geared to said shaft, an externally screw threaded connection between said pedal and said plunger adapted to draw said plunger longitudinally and thereby rotate said axle, means to prevent rotation of said plunger in said operative movement, and means to re-` turn said plunger inoperatively.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a stand, a casing adapted to rest on said stand and having an outlet, an inlet nozzle communicating with the interior of said casing, a` rotatable shaft, a suction fan secured on said shaft and adapted to be revolved thereby in said casing, an internally screw threaded tubular axle geared to said shaft, an externally screw threaded hollow plunger within said axle having clutc sai teeth, a non-rotatry sleeve within plunger also provided with clutch teeth adapted to mesh with the teethon said plunger and thereby prevent rotation of said plunger, a pedal, a flexible connection hetween said pedal and said sleeve adapted to draw said sleeve and vthereby said plunger longitudinally to rotate said axle and a sprin confined within said axle and tending to rct-urn said sleeve and plunger with disengagement of the respective clutch teeth thereon, to permit rotation of saidplunger on its return stroke.'

HERBERT BRAND SHARMAN. ALBERT EDWARD BURRAGE.

. plunger within said axle, a pedal, a flexible 

